Submersible motor



Jan. 19, 1960 E, M, DETERS 2,922,055

SUBMERSIBLE MOTOR 62. Gl y Jan. 19, 1960 Filed March 13. 1959 E. M. DETERs Y 2,922,055

suBMERsIBLE MOTOR 2 4Sheets-Sheet 2 2,922,055 sUBMERsILE Moron ElmerfMnDeters, l)avenport,vllowa,4 assignor to Red Jacket ManufacturngCo., Davenport, Iowa, a corporation of Iowa.. lAppnmtilm March 13, 1959, serial 1510.799238 v 1n claims. (c1. sro-sn .This invention relates to electricmotors and particularly to a motor whichis adapted for Aoperation submerged in water..

. Submersible electric motors are commonly filled with aninsulating-and Alubricatingeliquid orA oil .and have a` shaft seal 'at one end and a diaphragm or movablekwall at the` other end dening an expansible reservoirfor storing-quantity of oil. Pressure is applied to the diaphragmtojmain'tain the yoil in the motor under a pressure .slightly in access ofthe fluid pressure outside the motor and .cause-a small amount of oil. to ow out past, the shaft seal'and thereby prevent the external liquid `from entering the.motor.,at that point. ,The expansible reservoir also permits the oil inthe motor to expand and contract,`4 as itis lalternately heated and'cooled `during operatin,.and.prevents the build-up of excess pressure in the moto'nahdfthe pumping of the external liquid past the shaftseal into and out of the motor.

Afteraa' vconventional yelectric motor has been in use for a 4prolonged period, the oil leaking past the shaft seal will" exhaust the oil in -the expansible reservoir and the diaphragm; or movable wall will reach the end of its movement. Thereafter, when. the oilu is heated and expands, some oil will flow out past the shaft seal and, vas the oil cools and contracts, the pressure in the motor will drop below the fluid pressure outsideand permit the externalliquidto enter the top of the motor past the shaft seal. When such a motor is operated in water, the water being denser than theoil will ow downwardly -in the motor .to the motor windings and bearings. Moreover, as the water enters the motor, it is agitated by thel rotating armature and parts connected thereto and becomes mixed with the oil torapidly `contaminate all 0f the oil in the motor. Thus, the water entering the ltop of the motor soon causes shorting of the stator windings, if the windings are not properly sealed. However, even in those motors employing sealed stators, `diflic'ulty is encountered due tothe corrosive action of some water on the bearings and other parts .of the motor.`

When the oilY inthe expansible portion` of the reservoir has been exhausted, an appreciable quantity ofV oil remains in the reservoir and in ther lower portion of the motor casing below the stator windings. It is'an irnportant object of this invention to provide a submersible electric motor construction which is operative after the oil in the expansible chamber has been exhausted, to feed that oil which remains in the reservoir and in the lower portion' of the motor casing upwardly past the shaft seal to'thereby prolong the operation .of the 'motor in the insulating and lubricating medium.

'A morevparticular object of this invention is to provide a submersible electric motor having an expansible reservoir at its lower end which is arranged to seal the Areservoir from the surrounding water until the oil in the expansiblev portion of the reservoir has been exhausted, and' which thereaftercommunicates the reservoir with the surrounding water to permit water to ow into and out of the reservoir as the oil in the motor expands and contracts rice and to thereby prevent the pumping of water into the motor chamber past the shaft seal.

These, together with various ancillary objects and advantages of this invention will be more readily appreciated as the same becomes better understood by reference to the following detailed description when taken in connection with the accompanying drawings wherein:

Figure l is a longitudinal sectional view through the motor, showing the position of the diaphragm when theY expansible reservoir is filled with oil;

Fig.` 2 is a fragmentary longitudinal sectional View through the motor of Figure l and showingthe position of the diaphragm when the oil in the expansible portion of the reservoir has been exhausted;

Fig. 3 is a fragmentary longitudinal sectional view through a motor having a modied expansible reservoir construction and illustrating the diaphragm position when the expansible reservoir is lilled with oil; and

Fig. 4 is a fragmentary longitudinal sectional view through the motor of Fig. 3, illustrating the diaphragm position when the oil in the expansible portion of the reservoir is exhausted.

The `motor of the present invention is designed for.

operation for a prolonged period immersed in water and includes an outer shell 10 having top and bottom end` bells or llanges 11 and 12 at opposite ends thereof. As

' shown herein, the upper end bell 11 overlies the end of the shell and is secured thereto by studs 13, the upper end bell havinga reentrant portion 14 which is sealed to- The lower end bell 12 isY the shell by an O-ring 15. secured to the shell 10 by cap screws 16 and has a reentrant portion 17 which extends into the shell and `is sealed thereto as by 0-rings 18.

The eld windings 21 extend through slots in the stator laminations and dene a central rotor chamber -22 be` tween the end bells. The power input conductors 23 extend through the upper end bell 11 and are connected to the field windings 21 through a molded rubber plug connector 24. `The connector is conveniently clamped in position by a gland 25 which seals the opening between the connector and the upper end bell to prevent the entrance of` water to the field windings.

The armature 27 is disposed in the rotor chamber 22 and has a lower shaft portion 28 which is supported on the lower end bell and an upper shaft portion 29 which is supported on the upper end bell and extends therethrough for connectionto the pump or other apparatus (not shown) tobe driven by the motor. More particularly, the upper portion 29 is supported on a radial sleeve bearing 31-carried bythe reentrant portion 14 of the upper end bell. The upper end bell has a cavity 32 at the outer end of the bearing 31 and a passage 33 for communicating the cavity with the rotor chamber 22. A sealing means is provided for sealing the shaft 29 t0 the stator body and as shown herein the sealing means includes'a stationary seal member 34 carried by a cap 35 attached to the upper end bell. A rotary seal member 36 is mounted on the shaft for rotation therewith and is yieldably urged against the stationary seal member by a spring 37. -The rotary seal member is sealed to the shaftby a bellows-type arrangement 38 and engages the stationary seal member to form a running seal therewith.

The motor is adapted to operate in an upright position and the lowerbearng for the armature is accordingly arrangedto radially and axially support the same. In the specific form herein illustrated, separate radial and axial thrust bearings are provided. ly supported in a sleeve bearing 41 carried by the re'- entrant portion 17 of the lower end bell. bearing is conveniently of the self aligning and self ad- The shaft 28 is radial- The thrust'` 49 in the reentrant portion'of the endfbell vand engage aV pressure equalizing plate 51. The equalizing plate is tiltably supported on a central ,spherical seat 5.2 which engages the cap 53 adjustablylin'to the end bell. l

, The motor is arranged to Vbe lled with a lubricating and insulating oil designatedO and a reservoir isy provided at the lower end of the motor for storing a quantityofthe A oil `and for feeding the' oil to the rotor chamber as the noil-'leaks outwardly past the shaft seal at the upper end of the motor. Oil from thereservoir Vis fed into the rotor chamber 22 through -one or more passages y50 Vin the` cap53 andl through the` passages 49 around the rods 48, and, also through the sleeve bearing 41 around the shaft 28. VInvaddition, vone or more passages 55 may be provided in the ir'eent'rant portion of `the lower end bell to, communicate the rotor chamber vwith the' reservoir therebelow. The fluid vreservoir-preferably includes a stator windings,l asshown in Figs. `1 and 2 as well as to motorsjin which the windings are not sealed as shown in Figs. 3 and 4.l As shown` in Figs. l and 2, the field windings are sealed by an inner sleeve 65 and may additionally be potted in a water impervious plastic.

ln accordance with the present invention, provision is made for communicating the reservoir with the water l outside the motor, `when the liquid in the expansible porrigid portion, suchas is formed 'by the sleeve kS7 vwhich is` attached tothe end bell 12 and extends downwardly therefrom. A ,movable-wall orv seal ,extends across the lower end of the sleeve-57 to form an expansible and contractible Voil reservoir and, as shown ,herein,',the movable wall comprises a cup shaped diaphragm 58 which is securedat its periphery tothe sleeve 57, as bythe expansible clamp ring 59. A protective cap -61 `is attached to the .lower end of the Vsleeve and has an enlargedopening 'or openings 62 therein to provide free communication between the outer side of the diaphragmfSS .and the surrounding water W. Y

Thediaphragm 58'is arranged to normallymaintain a sealbetween the reservoir and thesurrounding liquid and applies the pressure ofthe surroundingjliquid to the oil in themotor. The uid pressure acting on the diaphragm is supplemented by a spring 63 which engages the diaphragm and urges the same towards its collapsed position.A The spring maintains a pressure on the oil in the reservoir and rotor chamber at a pressure l slightly greater than the outside water pressure so that l the leakage across the shaft seal will be in a kdirection so as to accommodate the leakage past `the .shaft jvseal.

-After a prolonged period of operation, the movable wall ordiaphragm reaches the end of its stroke or movement and the spring is nov longer effective to maintain the pressure yon the oil in the motorrabove the surrounding water pressure.V As the oil in thek motoris thereafter heated and Vcooled during operation vof the motor, the pressure in the motor will periodically drop below the surrounding water pressure so that watermay leak into the vmotor past the shaft seal at the upper end of the'motor. This water, being denser than the oil in the motor, willrapidly flow vdownwardly vinto theV rotorchamber and-contact the bearings and windings ofthe motor. If the windings of the motor are not specially sealed so as to permit operation of the motor in water, the windings will soon short out and render the motor inoperative. However, even in those motors em? ploying sealed stators, some diiculty is encountered due' to -the corrosive action on the working parts of the motor .and to the reduction in lubricating characteristics i occasioned by the entrance of water into thepmotor and bearings. kThe improvement of the present invention may advantageously beagpplied to motors having sealed 'tion of the reservoir is substantially completely .exhausted The lubricating and insulating oil is selectedso as to have a density less than water, and oats ontop of the water as it enters the reservoir. `Thisprevents the pressure in the motor from dropping below the surrounding water pressure as the voil .coolsand contracts and thus prevents the pumping of water into and out of the motor past the shaft seal. Instead, the water ows into and kout of the reservoir, as the oil in the motor ,is alternately heated yand cooled.l As the oilf'continues lto gradually leak out past theshaft seal at the upper end of the motor, the water will gradually displace the oilwhich remains in the reservoir, and'in the lower portion ofthe rotor chamber below the leld windings. This permits the motor to operate for an additional period as an oil lubricated and insulated motor before the kwater level reaches thejwindings ASince the water' enters thereservoir below the rotating parts ofthe motor, the water does'not becomeagitated and mixed with the oil, as occurs when the'vwater entersl through the shaft .seal .at the top of'k the motor. s l l Selective communication of .the 'reservoir withthe surrounding liquid, .after a prolonged period of operation of the motor yas a fullyY sealed oil insulated and lubricated motor, is Vachieved by the provision of ja valve in the reservoir which is arrangedto be opened after the oil in the reservoir has vbeen substantially exhausted and the diaphragm approaches the .end of its movement. VIn the embodiment shown in Figs. 1 and 2,

a support plate 71 overlies the central portion of the' diaphragm at its outer face. The diaphragm is clampedy between a washer 72 and the support plate 71, by a fastener 73 and nut 74. The spring 63 hereinshown is of theV coiltype and conveniently attached tothe diaphragm 58V by having one end 63a thereof.. connected to 4the inner end of the fastener 73; The other'end63b of the spring is attached to the end bellV 12 by ay fastener v When the rotor 7 5 `which extends into the` cap 53. chamber 22 andthe reservoir are filled with oil, the spring 63 is distended as shown in Fig. 1 and applies pressure "to the diaphragm to maintain the oil in the motor under a pressure slightlyin excess of the water pressureoutside the motor.

A passage 78 is formed in the diaphragm, inwardly of` the periphery of the support plate 71 and cooperates with' when the 'oil in lthe reservoiris vsubstantially completely exhausted. While a separate stop may be provided for this purpose/the spring 63 is advantageously arrangedV so that the`convolutions thereof contact eachA other, fas

shown in Fig. 2, when the diaphragm reaches ,a preselected position. Any further loss of oil fromthereser-vl voir willyreduce the rpressure therein slightly .below the surrounding .water` pressure and iforce the V.diaphragm away .from the'suppzortplate, as-shown .in Fig.' 2,to'uncover the. port 78..and .permit E'water to flown-into .Eind

out of .the reservoir. This l.appliesthe fluid pressure ,outside'the .motor `to Athe r.oil lthe .motorand thus pre- VentsQthe ,entrance of water Jintothe motor past ythe Shaftfsaalf Th@ .9111 isi-Seated.. .1.a have a streitig entity:

or density less than water Aso that the buoyancy of the oil on the water will tend to cause the oil to ow outwardly past the shaft seal.

The motor construction illustrated in Figs. 3 and 4 is similar to that shown in Figs. 1 and 2 and like numerals are` used to designate corresponding parts. The motor of Fig. 3 and 4 differs from that shown in Figs. 1 and 2 primarily in the specific valve construction employed for selectively communicating the uid reservoir with the water outside the motor, whenthe oil in the reservoir has been substantially exhausted. In the embodiment of Figs..3 and 4, a modified form of diaphragm 58a is provided and clamped to the sleeve 57 bythe aforementioned expansible ring 59. A bushing 81 having a ange 82 at its inner end, extends through a central opening in the diaphragm and the diaphragm is clamped to the flange by a nut 83 which is threaded on the bushing. A support plate 84 is interposed between the diaphragm and the'nut, andoverlies a substantial area at the outer side of the diaphragm.

The bushing 81 has a ow passage 86 extending therethrough and a valve member S7 having a gasket 88 overlies the outer end of the bushing to control the flow through the passage. A stem 89 is connected to the valve member andloosely extends through the flow passage 86 to permit liquid to flow past the stem when the valve member is open as shown in Fig. 4. The spring 63 has one end 63a thereof attached to the valve member and the other end secured by the aforementioned fastener 75 to the cap 53 on the lower end bell. Thus, the spring draws the valve member to its closed position shown in Fig. 3 and also yieldably urges the diaphragm toward the rotor chamber to maintain the oil therein under pressure.' After a quantity of oil has leaked past the shaft seal, the convolutions of the spring 63V engage each other and terminate the applicationof Spring pressure to the valve and diaphragm. Further contraction of the oil, due to loss past the shaft seal and thermal contraction, will reduce the pressure in the reservoir below the surrounding water pressure whereby the water pressure on the outer side of the diaphragm will move the bushing away from the valve member 87 and open the passage 86. Thereafter, water may iow through the passage 86 into and outnof the reservoir, as the liquid therein expands and contracts. As in the preceding embodiment, the oilV is selected to have a density less than that of water so as to yremain separated therefrom.

From the foregoing it is apparent that the motor will operate for a prolonged initial period as a completely sealed motor until the oil in the reservoir has been substantially exhaustedand will thereafter communicate the Y reservoir with the surrounding water to prevent the entrance of water at the top of the motor around the shaft seal. With this arrangement, that volume lof voil which remains in the reservoir after the diaphragm has reached the end of its movement, and the oil in the lower portion of the rotor chamber below the windings, will be exhausted beforethe water contacts the windings. In this manner, the life of the motor is effectively increased without requiring an increase in the size of the reservoir or the amplitude of movement of the wall or diaphragm.

I claim: y

1. An electric motor for operation immersed in water comprising a stator body having a motor field winding rtherein and defining a rotor chamber, a motor armature in said chamber having an output shaft, bearing means for rotatably supporting the shaft on the stator body, sealing means at one end of said chamber surrounding said shaft for sealing said shaft to said body, means defining an oil reservoir at the other end of said chamber, said last-mentioned means including a movable wall having one side exposed to fluid pressure in the reservoir and the other side exposed to the water pressure outside the motor, a volumeof oil having a density less than water filling said rotor chamber and said reservoir, Spring means for urging said movable wall toward the rotor chamber to maintain the pressure on the oil above the water pressure outside the motor and prevent the inflowl of water past said sealing means, said spring means including means for terminating the application of spring pressure on said wall when the wall reaches a preselected position, passage means communicating said reservoir with the water outside the motor, and valve means normally blocking flow through said passage means and operative to open when the movable wall reaches said preselected position to thereafter permit water from outside'the motor to flow into and out of said reservoir as the oil in the motor expands and contracts.

2. An electric motor for operation immersed in water comprising a stator body having a motor field winding therein and defining a rotor chamber, a motor armature in said chamber having an output shaft, bearing means for rotatably supporting the shaft on the stator body, sealing means at one end of said chamber surrounding said shaft for sealing said shaft to said body, means defining an oil reservoir at the other end of said chamber, said last-mentioned means including a movable wall having one side exposed to fluid pressure in the reservoir and the other side exposed to the water pressure outside the motor, a volume of oil having a density less than water filling said rotor chamber and said reservoir, spring means for urging said movable wall toward the rotor chamber to maintain the pressure on the oil above the water pressure outside the motor and prevent the inow of water past said sealing means, said spring means including means for terminating the application of spring pressure on said wall when the wall reaches a preselected position, passage means in said movable wall communicating said reservoir -with the water' outside the motor, and valve means normally blocking flow through said passage means and operative to open when the movable wall reaches said preselected position to thereafter permit water from outside the motor to iiow through said passage means into `and'out of said reservoir as the liquid in themotor expands and contracts;

3. An electric motortfor operation immersed in water comprising a stator body having a motor eld winding therein and dening a rotor chamber, a motor armature in said chamber having an output shaft, bearing means for rotatably supporting the shaft on the stator body, sealing means at one end of said chamber surrounding said shaft for sealing said shaft to said body, means defining an oil reservoir at the other end of said chamber, said last-mentioned means including a movable wall having one side exposed to fluid pressure in the reservoir and the other side exposed to the waterpressure outside the motor, a volume of oil having a density less than water Vfilling said rotor chamber and said reservoir, passage'means in said movable wall for communicating said reservoir with the water outside the motor, a valve member for controlling flow through said passage means, spring means connected to said member for yieldably urging said member relative to said wall to a position closing said passage means and for urging said wall toward the rotor chamber to maintain the pressure on the oil therein above the surrounding water pressure and prevent the inflow of water past said sealing means, said spring means including means for terminating the application of spring pressure on said valve member when the `wall reaches a preselected position whereby said wall is adapted to move away from said valve member and open said passage means to permit water to flow into and out of said reservoir as the liquid in the motor expands and contracts.

4. An electric motor for operation immersed in water comprising a stator body having a motoreld winding therein and defining a rotor chamber, a motor armature in said chamber .having anoutput shaft, .bearingV means rotatably supporting said .shaft on the stator .body, sealing means vat .one .end of the chamber surrounding said shaft for sealing the shaft to .the body, means including a diaphragm defining an `oil reservoir at the other end of said chamber, spring means .yieldably urging said diaphragm toward said rotor chamber tomaintain the pressure in the rotor chamber and reservoir above the pressure of the surrounding water, said spring Vmeans yincluding means for terminating the application .of spring pressure on saiddiaphragm when the diaphragm reachesl a preselected position, and valve means including a passage in vsaid diaphragm yand .a `valve member movable relative kthereto operative to close said passage when the pressure in said reservoir is `abovethe pressure of'. the surrounding waterand to opensaid passage when the lsaid plate reaches said preselected position whereby -ing therein and .defining va rotor chamber, a-motor armature in said chamber having .an output shaft, bearing means rotatablysupporting said shaft on the statorbody,

pressure in saidreservoir drops belowr the surrounding f water pressure whereby to adnut water to saldreservoir.

5. An electric motor kfor operation immersed in water comprising a statorbody having `a .motor eld winding therein and deining a rotor chamber, amotor arma- Y ture in said chamber having an output shaft, bearing l means rotatably supporting saidshaft on the stator body,

sealing means at one end of said chamber surrounding said shaft for sealing said shaft to said body, means inlcluding a diaphragm defining an oil reservoir at the other end of said chamber, valve means including .a passage extending through saidldiaphragm and a valve member mounted on the diaphragm for limited movement .rela-` tivethereto between a position Vclosing said passageland v' an open position, spring means for Iyieldably lurging' said diaphragm toward said vrotor .chamber to maintain the pressure in the rotor chamber above the surrounding water pressure, said spring means including means.4 for ltierminating the application of spring pressureon the diaphragm when the diaphragm reaches. a preselected position and for valso Vlimiting `further movement .of said .valve member whereby to permit said diaphragm to move relative to the valve member and openfsaid passage when the pressure in the reservoir drops below the pressure on y the surrounding water.v

6. An electric motor for kroperation.ixmner'sed in water comprising a stator 'body having a motor field windv ing therein and dening a yrotorchambena motor armature in said chamber having an output shaft, bearing means rotatably supporting said shaft on the statorV body, sealing means at vone end of .the chamber-surrounding ,said shaft for sealing the shaftl to the body, means including a diaphragm vdefining .an oil reservoir at the other end of said chamber, a support plate overlying the centralportiron of the diaphragm at the outer side thereof, said diaphragm having .an opening therein located inwardly of the periphery of .said'pla'te, spring .means connected to said plate-for'yieldably urging the plate vand .diaphragm` toward said yrotorv chambertomaintain theV pressure in the rotor chamber and reservoirabove the pressure on the surrounding water and toV thereby press the diaphragm against the plate to close fsaid opening, and means for limiting movement of .said plate beyond a preselected position to terminate theA application ofV spring pressure sealing means at one end of the chamber surroundingl said shaft for sealing the shaft to the body, meansy including a diaphragm defining an oil reservoir at the other end of said chamber, means mounted Von said dia phragm defining a passage extending therethrough and a valve seat at the outer end of said passage, a valve member engageable with said seat and having a stem slidably supported in said passage, and spring means connected to said stem for -yieldably urgingsaid valve member to a position closing said passage andl for yieldably urging said diaphragm toward said rotor chamber to maintain the pressure on .the oil in said reservoir above the .surrounding water pressure, said spring means including means for limiting movement of said valve member beyond a preselected position to terminate the application of spring pressure to said diaphragm whereby to permit said diaphragmand valve seat to move Vaway fromthe valve member and open saidpassage .when the pressure.

in the ,reservoir drops below the surrounding water pressure.

`9. The combination of .claim 8 wherein said spring means includes acoil spring terminably. attachedto said stem and to said body, the convolutions of said coil spring being arranged to engage when said valve member reaches said preselected position to .emit further movement thereof.. f

l0. Anelectric motor for operation immersed in water comprising a stator body having a motor field winding therein andv defining'a rotor chamber, a motor armature in saidchamberkhaving anoutput'shaft, bearing means rotatably supporting said shafton the stator body,/

sealing means latone end of the chamber surrounding said shaft for sealing the shaft to the body, means including a'diaphragm defining an oil reservoir atl theV other end of 'said chamber, a rigid bushingV extending through ysaid diaphragm defining a passa-gezind aseatrat the outer end of said bushing, a valve member overlying the outer end of said bushing and having a stem slidably extending through said passage, and a coil. spring lcon-y nected to said stem and to said body for urging said dia# phragm inwardly of said reservoir and forrterminatingV the application of spring pressurelonsaid valve member when convolutions of the spring engage each other.

No references cited. 

